the rotation of the wheel. As I have never seen this method in use in any part of England, the hint may be found useful. The leading horses are furnished with breeching as well as the shaft horse, and are detached from the shaft, and attached to the tail of the cart in the mode endeavoured to be represented by the rough sketch annexed; no alteration being required in the harness except the taking off the traces from the tug of the horse next the shaft, and hooking the same on to the tug of the leader. This method not only answers the purpose of keeping the carriage back, but it also relieves the shaft horse of a considerable portion of the weight, whereas the tying of the wheel adds to the weight on the horse's back. The carman will find no difficulty in managing them.

REFERENCE TO THE ENGRAVING.

The chain A (Fig. 1, Plate XIV.) having a hook at each end, is detached from the horse B at C, and attached to the cart at G, and by the other end to the harness of the horse D, at E.

Description of certain Improvements in the Turning Lathe, By Mr. T. LANE, of Stockwell, Surrey.

With a Plate.

From the TRANSACTIONS of the SOCIETY for the Encouragement of ARTS, MANUFACTURES, and COMMERCE. The Silver Medal was presented to Mr. T. LANE for this Communication.

HAVING often occasion for a turning lathe in my own business, and having experienced the imperfection of

those

those on the usual construction, I have been led to make the following modifications, the utility of which have been amply confirmed by my own experience.

This improvement consists in making the line to run double, and in affording an easy way of regulating the pressure. Hence the line is always kept tight and ready for use, without the trouble and loss of time in tightening and slackening the line as is necessarily the case when it runs single.. The common line, unless it is strained very tight, is apt to slip on the mandril wheel, and from its tightness it causes much friction in the collar where the spindle is large, and hence runs heavy.

In my arrangement the line running double has more power on the mandril wheel without its being half so tight as ordinary, neither does it bear down on the mandril wheel, hence this latter runs remarkably light. There is, indeed, in my construction an additional wheel or pulley, but as it runs on two small points, it does not add materially to the friction.

I have had this in use for two years, and have every reason to be satisfied with its performance.

REFERENCE TO THE ENGRAVING.

A, (Plate XIV.) the fly wheel. B, the mandril wheel. C, the top wheel. D, a piece standing up, with notches in it, to form a rack; in this the cross piece E may be put to a proper height, so as to play up or down, according to the contracting or expanding of the band or line. F, the weight, the line of which runs over a small pulley G, pulling down the same, and raising the wheel C, thus keeping the band always tight.

To put the band on right, supposing one end to be at H, going up at 1, over the left-hand groove of the top VOL. XXXV.-SECOND SERIES. 00 wheel,

wheel, down at 2, under the right-hand groove of the mandril wheel B, up at 3 over the right-hand groove at C, down at 4 under the right-hand groove of the fly wheel A, up at 5 over the left-hand groove at B, down at 6 under the right-hand groove of the wheel A, up at 7 meeting at H. The object of running the band in this way is, that it may have double power over the mandril wheel B, by going both over and under it; in the next place, the band being kept tight by the weight, it is always ready for use. There may be two or three different diameters of grooves in the mandril wheel, but it must be observed, that the two grooves which the band runs on at the same time on each wheel, must be exactly the same diameter one with the other, otherwise the band must slip and cause friction.

Description of a Night Life-Buoy.

By Mr. THOMAS COOK, of Plymouth.

With a Plate..

From the TRANSACTIONS of the SOCIETY for the Encouragement of ARTS, MANUFACTURES, and COMMerce.

The Gold Isis Medal was voted to Mr. T. Cook for this Communication.

THE following account of the manner of fixing and using a night life-preserving buoy, is a plan of which I had the honour of inclosing for the information and consideration of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Captain Dacres, of his Majesty's ship Tiber, who (after the trial made by the admiral and four captains in the harbour)